Josh Hart knows he’s going to have to sacrifice. On a Knicks team chasing a championship, individual stats and shot attempts take a back seat to the bigger mission. For Hart, that means accepting a new role on offense — one that’s far from the responsibilities he shouldered last season when injuries to Julius Randle and OG Anunoby made him a secondary playmaker. This year, Hart finds himself fifth in line. The Knicks’ starting lineup is packed with offensive firepower, featuring two All-Star scorers in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, plus two of the league’s premier three-and-D wings in Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. On this new-look squad, Hart has embraced being the “connector.” He’ll still crash the boards, push the pace, and make plays for his teammates—qualities that have defined his game. But in half-court sets, his role has shifted. Hart, who thrives with the ball in his hands, now has to adjust to being an off-ball floor spacer. “I’m not—at this stage of my career, I’m more so catch-and-shoot, knock-down shooter,” Hart said after practice at the Tarrytown training on Friday. “[At my core] I’m a shooter with rhythm, and that rhythm is going to be scarce at times. I’ve got to be focused and confident when I do get those shots and shoot them with confidence.” It’s a tough position for Hart. As a rhythm player, he now faces the challenge of hitting key shots without the in-game touches that typically help him find his groove. In the Knicks’ first two preseason games, he attempted just two shots in each — both from beyond the arc — and missed all four. For the Knicks’ five-out offense to function as designed, Hart needs to knock down those shots to keep defenses honest. And he’ll need to do it cold. How does a rhythm player catch a rhythm without the beat? “Honestly, I have no idea,” Hart admitted. “Hopefully, I’m gonna try to figure it out during the season. For anybody, really, if you’re not in rhythm it’s tough to make shots, or if you don’t know where your shots are coming from, it’s tough to make shots. So that’s something that I’m knowing going in, and I’ve just gotta shoot ’em when I can.” Hart’s unselfishness is clear. It’s not about his scoring — it’s about what’s best for the team. “If I don’t [shoot the three], just try to make a play with it. It’s a process of learning,” Hart added. “In my eighth year, I think this role will be a little bit different than before. So at the end of the day, it’s not about me. It’s about making sure J.B.’s in a position to succeed, Kat’s in position to succeed, and making sure Mikal and OG get their shots. “So in that unit, I’m more of a connector. For me, I gotta make sure I’m holding myself accountable and don’t get bored with that. What’s best for the Knicks, of course, is Hart knocking down open shots — something he struggled with last season. Hart shot a career-worst 31 percent from three-point range last year. During Knicks training camp in Charleston, S.C., he attributed those struggles to a mix of mechanical issues and over-thinking, two things he’s working to overcome this season. Rhythm, however, is a different beast. Hart will need to catch his rhythm while playing to a new tune. “The rhythm will be the tough one to try to figure out, but my role this year is to be that shooter or that scorer. It is what it is, and if that’s what I’ve gotta do to help the team win or make a deep run, then I’ll do that,” Hart explained. “I won’t lie, it’ll be frustrating at times for sure, but at the end of the day I think we don’t go far, we don’t win without having to sacrifice, and I think that’s just something I’ll have to sacrifice.”